SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man is behind bars after he was reportedly caught in possession of a stolen ATV.

Court documents indicate the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 36-year-old Christopher James Coxson.

According to a criminal complaint, on July 3, Sugarcreek Borough Police were dispatched to an area off Warren Road for a report of an ATV that “had been there for a while.”

At the scene, officers spoke with the individual in charge of the leased property, who reported the ATV had been in the same spot for about two weeks. The individual said he noticed it there just after officers from Sugarcreek Borough assisted the Sheriff’s office in taking someone into custody who was camping in the area, the complaint indicates.

The ATV was a Polaris four-wheeler that was originally yellow in color, but had been painted red at the rear and black at the front with the front end also wrapped in black duct tape. No key was located with or around the ATV. A check of the ATV’s VIN number came back as listed as stolen by the Oil City Police Department.

According to the complaint, Chief Wenner, of Sugarcreek Borough Police Department, then examined the ATV and was able to identify it as the same ATV that Christopher Coxson had at his tent while camping in the same area on June 18. Chief Wenner also noted that on the night of June 18, while officers were looking at the ATV, Coxson made the statement “do you have a warrant to check my four-wheeler.”

Another officer who was at the scene on June 18 also checked the ATV and said it was the same one Coxson had in his possession on June 18, the complaint notes.

It was discovered that the ATV’s wiring had been redone to bypass the ignition switch so a key would not be needed to operate it, according to the complaint.

Coxson was arraigned at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10, in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey on the following charge:

– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3

Unable to post $5,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Venango County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on July 15 in Venango County Central Court with Judge Lowrey presiding.